Pre Season Match Report
Caldy 51-26 Durham University
Birkenhead Park 31-40 Caldy
Despite a narrow 40-33 loss away against old rivals Sale FC, Caldy’s coaching team were relatively satisfied with that first pre-season warm up match. The fact that it was the first contact rugby for the enlarged squad of 38 players and the omission of many senior players provided encouragement after this away fixture against a side which will be very clearly pushing for promotion to the Elior Champ.
This weekend’s games was another important pre-season marker.
Images by OneBall Creative
The Ravers were fully aware of the pace and intensity that would be brought by the Super BUCS side and from the start laid down the challenge to the visitors. Livewire scrum half Ollie Wynn and debutant standoff Ben Parkin set the outside backs free in a compelling opening 15 minutes which produced 3 sparkling tries. A slimmer, fitter and faster Connor Wilkinson was involved in all three scores, breaking the gain line to either score himself or put Matt Gallagher and then Will Robinson in for scores. Caldy’s ascendancy was based on a solid forward platform. The visitors were struggling to contain the rampaging drives from number 8 Jack Wilson and second row Harry Lightfoot and the overall dominance of the Ravers’ pack.
However, whilst this exhilarating style of play entertained the 500 or so spectators it also gave Durham opportunities which they took with three unconverted scores of their own. 19-15 at the break and the visitors started the second half with the benefit of a stiff breeze behind them.
Images by Barry Quatermass
Caldy played a tighter game in the second half which the visitors struggled to counter. The home side’s pack racked up several scores through drives and rolling mauls, but it was a piece of individual brilliance that will live long in the memory. Caldy’s replacement left wing Sebi Krippner fielded a kick just outside his 22 and set off for the Durham line. It was reminiscent of Nick Royle’s ‘worldy’ 2022 score against Richmond, as Durham’s would be tacklers were either gassed, stepped or skittled by the powerful wing as he made his way down the touchline to score in the corner.
With eight or nine senior Caldy forwards not involved in this entertaining game it was particularly encouraging to see the very positive impact from the young forward quintet of Harry Harding, Harry Lightfoot, Cam De Beer, Luke Denn and Jack Wilson.
Caldy 51-26 Durham University
Ahead of the Saturday afternoon kick off at Upper Park the Friday night roles were expected to be reversed as a very youthful Caldy side featuring at least 6 players who had never played senior rugby took on what was expected to be a physically dominant Birkenhead Park side.
Upper Park was in beautiful condition. The upgraded facilities were matched by a verdant playing surface that seemed untouched by drought. The Birkenhead Park squad, although physically bigger and more experienced than the Ravers, looked fitter and better conditioned than in previous seasons. Perhaps this was not going to be quite the power versus pace contest that Caldy were expecting.
This was a compelling, very competitive, entertaining contest with both sides going at it full bore. Caldy opened the scoring with two quick tries before Park hit back. Caldy had the greater intensity with the Ravers’ pack being an incessant swarm that often threatened to overwhelm the home side, often driving the Park side back with crunching aggressive tackling. Caldy’s young back row pair of Issac Waldron and Max Wilson were outstanding in this regard. The introduction of 18-year-old Matti Sangare provided the visitors with further power through which they scored at least 4 well executed tries from driving mauls.
Images by Kieran Free
Against expectation Park perhaps showed the greater attacking control and creativity out wide, with the best of their scores coming from a perfect crossfield kick that put the left winger in unopposed at the corner.
Both clubs will have gained a lot from the fixture. Caldy will have been delighted with the intensity and commitment from a very young side with some impressive individual performances. Birkenhead Park will surely be encouraged ahead of their Regional 2 North West league campaign which begins on Saturday 26 September at home against Douglas from the Isle of Man.
There is clear competition for places right across the senior Caldy squad and how this will feed in to this season’s Elior Champ campaign may well be shown be Caldy’s next pre season outing.
The next and last warm up fixture for the Ravers is this coming Saturday away at Chinnor. This will be another step up for the Ravers as they will face a Chinnor side that last Saturday put 55 unanswered points against Premiership Leicester Tigers!
Birkenhead Park 31-40 Caldy
A celebration of the life of Richard Henry Williams
Family, friends and members of the community are warmly invited to join us at Caldy Rugby Club on Friday 18th September from 4pm for an evening of choir and live music, with tributes to Richard at 5.30pm.
No flowers, please. Donations are gratefully received in Richard’s memory for the Caldy Playing Fields Trust and the RNLI.
All are welcome, with no dress code.
